Question

An older adult living in a long-term care facility has been receiving lithium 600 mg twice a day for 3 weeks to ease manic behavior. the client is experiencing nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, thirst, polyuria, slurred speech, and muscle weakness. what is the most appropriate nursing intervention?

Answer 1

 

If the client is experiencing nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, thirst, polyuria, slurred speech, and muscle weakness, then the most appropriate nursing intervention would be withholding the next dose of lithium and drawing blood to test it for toxicity to avoid worsening the client’s condition.

 

To add, the variety of toxicities wherein some substances may give rise causes of harm to the entire body, hazard to specific organs, major/minor damage, or cause cancer are called health hazards. Anything falling outside of the definition cannot be classified as that type of toxicant. In treating schizophrenia, impulse control disorders, depression, eating disorders and certain mental illnesses in kids, lithium is used for them.